Irish Charm In A Woodland Suite

A new woodland experience in Cork brings both luxury and the feelgood factor, as Margaret Hussey discovers.

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Review: The Montenotte’s Woodland Suite Experience, Cork

Padding around in reception in my dressing gown and slippers, I quickly felt at home – which is exactly how The Montenotte wants you to feel. The hotel, on the outskirts of Cork city centre in Ireland, has already undergone a major refurbishment, and now its £6.3 million Woodland Suite Experience is the cherry on the cake. It’s a cocoon of luxury set in woodland and wildflower meadows overlooking the city’s River Lee. Hugely impressive in scale and design, the suites are an addition to the 107 rooms in the hotel, near enough to use all its facilities, yet tucked away enough to make you feel like you are in another world.

There are four River and five Woodland suites – all exquisitely finished with Italian travertine and a Japandi style (Japanese modernism meeting Scandinavian minimalism). But the suites are far from cold or clinical, with a king size bed, beautiful linen and McNutt of Donegal lambswool throws, this is a place to hunker down. We were lucky enough to stay in a larch-clad Woodland suite, perched high in the treetops. There was a gentle breeze when we visited and the sway of the trees and rustle of the leaves was so soothing. Even on a wet, thundery day, you could imagine this place would just wrap its arms around you.

Woodland Suite Bed and Bathtub Views

The suite had everything you would need to shut out the world for a night – from the huge free-standing bath looking out to the views to the power shower with refillable Ortigia products, the impressive and well-stocked fridge/mini bar to a Sage kettle and toaster, Neff hob, dishwasher and espresso machine. There was also a welcoming carafe of Irish whiskey and loads of local Irish produce from Bean and Goose soda bread chocolate to Homespun oat bars.

As the suites are a little bit away from reception, you can call for a buggy to take you up to the main hotel, particularly if you are in the aforementioned dressing gown. Somehow the discreet and friendly staff seemed to be ahead of us and were waiting outside to whisk us up to the new Salt Room at the Bellevue Spa. Its walls are created from over 1,400 salt bricks from the Himalayas and give off a pinkish glow. There’s salt on the floor, too, and you feel it exfoliating your soles – and purifying your soul – within minutes.

The salt is said to remove allergens, help with breathing and boost the immune system. I could feel a slight tickle in my nose as it worked its magic and within minutes – aided by a herbal tea – I was curled up in a foetal position and nodding off. If you want to keep your fitness regime going, there is also a good-sized pool, gym, sauna and steam room.

The Clubhouse

Guests in the Woodland Suite Experience have a personal check-in at the residents-only Clubhouse with a glass of Gremillet on arrival. Swing by in the early evening too for a sundowner – we enjoyed a peach Martini while admiring the views.

If you don’t fancy the buggy, it’s a few minutes walk up to the hotel’s dining facilities – and a chance to admire the beautifully landscaped Victorian sunken gardens. You can have a drink on The Terrace or dine in its Panorama restaurant. My curry of roasted squash and lentil dahl was delicious – with seasonal and Irish ingredients at the forefront of everything. The Glasshouse is also a great place for a cocktail and has a real buzz about it. When we visited, there was a fashion show by upmarket Irish designer store Brown Thomas. And as if that wasn’t enough, there is an in-house cinema with two free screenings a night.

The scale of The Montenotte means you can party if you want to, but also be squirrelled away. Our suite was calling, so we returned to find a super cosy turndown with a lit candle on the bath, the blackout curtains drawn and telly on. It’s built into the bed and, if you are feeling indulgent, you can swivel it around and watch TV from a bubble bath.

After a fantastic night’s sleep, it was time for breakfast at the Clubhouse, with Irish cheeses like Ballylisk and Cashel Blue as well as Juniper smoked salmon, nuts and seeds, yoghurt and juices. The full Irish had everything you could want, and even the full vegan didn’t shortchange with vegetable white pudding and vegan scrambled eggs.

River Suites surrounded by Irish Wild Flowers

Every guest who stays in the suites has a tree planted by Irish charity Hometree as part of the hotel’s Nights-for-Nature initiative. It’s a lovely gesture and nice to know that, as well as capturing our hearts, there will always be a little part of us in Ireland.

Find more of our favourite hotels in Ireland and Northern Ireland here.

BOOK IT

Starting room rates for The Woodland Suite Experience are from £574 per night and include breakfast, Chauffeured Buggy Escort to your Suite, Nights-for-Nature tree planting, sundowners cocktail in the clubhouse and access to all The Montenotte’s facilities. themontenottehotel.com

Margaret was on a personal holiday when this review was conducted.